More details emerge after Accra's gas explosion

It’s emerging that majority of both the deceased and the injured on Saturday night gas explosion at the atomic junction in Accra did not suffer directly from the fire.

Reports available at the health institutions indicate most of the victims and deceased were knocked down or fell during a pandemonium following the explosion.

Aside the severe damage to property in the area, seven lives were lost including a presidential cameraman from net2 television, whilst 132 persons were suffered various degrees of injuries.

The Legon Hospital, 37 Military Hospital and the greater Accra regional hospitals are treating of majority of the victims.

A visit to some of the health institutions that responded to the emergency revealed that most of the affected persons were knocked down by vehicles as they tried escaping from the disaster area.

Others reportedly fell during a stampede and had their limbs broken. Another category of victims were said to have been involved in vehicular accidents. This was as a result of reported panic reaction to the explosion. People far and near reportedly begun running away from the area resulting pedestrian knockdown, vehicular collisions among others.

Some of the victims were said to have fallen from heights leading to fatalities. Six of the deceased died on arrival at the hospital whilst one died on admission. Two of the victims are also in critical conditions at the intensive care unit of the military hospital, which has admitted 40 of the total victims.

The disaster has also put a lot of pressure on the health facilities, especially the 37 military hospital where medical personnel on leave have been re-called.

Government is yet to make any official pronouncement of about how to meet the needs of the victims, most of whom may spend even a year or more on admission.

A cursory look at the disaster scene at day revealed that more than 20 vehicles were also razed down by the explosion fire.

Government officials including the president have all been announcing proactive measures to forestall future occurrence including drastic punitive action.